Gearing device for washing-machines.



G. W. LEWIS. GEARING DEVICE EoR WASHING MACHINES.

GEORGE W. LEWIS, F GRINNELL, IOWA` ASSIGNOB T0 GRINNELL WASHING MACHINE COMPANY, OF GRINNELL, IOWA.

GEARING nEvIcE ron WAsHnvG-mfacn'mns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented J illy 3, 191i 7.

Application led February 7, 1917. Serial No. 147,241.

I citizen of the United States, and i'esident of Grinnell, in the county of Poweshiek and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Gearing Device for ll'ashing- Machines, of which, the following is a `speciication.

The object of my invention is to provide a gearing device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, especially designed for use in connection with washing machines. said gearing device being adapted to move an agitatingniember that is pivoted above the centerof the tub in a direction for swinging it in vert-ical plane back and forth acrossthe centerof the tub, and at the saine time progressively moving its pivotal point ina direction circumferentially around the tub, so -that each swinging movement of the agitator. passes through lthe body of the tub at an angle diii'erent'from the preceding movement, to' thereby produce a maximum of agitation of the `soapy water and a maximum of movement of the clothes to present new surfaces to the action of theagitator and moving water, with a minimum of applied power.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects con` templated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inv which: x.;f Figure l shows a vertical, central', sectional view through a gearing device em'- bodying my invention, and `.applied to ,a washing machine. j.

Fig. 2 shows a top or plana-view ,of the same, and j:

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged, detail, sectional view on the line 3 3 .of Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral-10 to indi l.

cate the body of awashjng machine, and 11 the hinged cover. Mounted in 'the central portion of the hinged cover is arotatable plate 12 havin -a ratchet toothed 13 extending aroun its upper surface, and being supported for rotation within the supporting'plate 14.A f

Near the central portionof the plate 12 are the upwardly .projecting brackets 15 in which is supported a shaft 16.A Mounted on the.' cover by this shaft is u 'hub 17 having two arms 'is projected at right angles to the hub, each provided With an antifriction roller 19. Ex-

tending downwardly from the hub is the agi# tator arm^20 secured to the lower end of which 1s an agitator 21, preferably closed at its top portion and open at its bottom portion, as shown.

By the arrangement shown. the agitator may be made to swing 'back and forth through the tub from its pivotal point above the hinged cover. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show the position of this agitator when at its limit of movement opposite from the position shown by.solid lines.

So long as the supporting plate 12 remains stationary this agitator will swing back and forth through the' tub in the same path. However, if the supporting plate 12 is moved by 'being rotated part of a revolution, it -is obvious that further swinging movement of the a 'tator will cause it to4 move through the Atu along an entirely dif- :ferent path of travel.

1 have provided for imparting to the agitator the swinging movement across the tub and also for imparting tothe plate that supports the agitator a step by step rotary movement to change the path of travel of the agitator through the tub, as follows:

Mounted on top of the hinged cover is a supporting bracket 22 having mounted in its central portion an upright shaft 23. This shaft has an arm 24 atlits upper end, connected to a'rod 25, which rod extends outwardly toward the side of the washing machine and is attached' 'to yan operating lever 26.

i On the lower end of the' shaft 23 is a balance wheel 27, having at its central portion a circular downwardly projecting cam 28.

which cam is designed to. engage 'the rollers' 19. By this arrangement it is obvious that when the lever 26 is reciprocated the balance wheel 27 will be rotated and the cam 28 will act upon thel arms 1S through the rollers 19 in such manner as to swingthe agitator back andforth through the body of the tub.

For rotating the supporting plate 12 step bystep as the agitator is swung, I have provided a rod 29 pivoted to the lever 26 and extended through a 'guideSO and having its free end designed to engage the ratchet teeth 13. so that during each movement of the 1ever 26 the rod 29 will act as a pawl and encausing the agitator to move the clothes about within the tube to present new surfaces to the action of the agitator and the water currents.

In practical use the soapy water and clothes are placed within the tub in the ordinary way, and after the cover is closed the lever 26 is reciprocated by the operator or in any suitable manner. This movement of the operating lever causes the balance wheel 27 to be rotated, and the rotation of thebalance wheel elf'ects the rocking or reciprocation of the agitator as described. At the same time the supporting plate 12 which carries the agitator is rotated step by. 'step through the action ofthe rod or pawl 29 and the ratchet rim 13, so that during a washing the agitator progressively swings across the center of the tub at various angles, and when a complete revolution of the plate 12 has been made the agitator will have operated directly upon all4 of the clothes contained within the tub, and at the same time will have caused the clothes to move around within the tub and to present new surfaces to the action of the agitator and the water.

As the agitator Q1 is moved upwardly, there will be a suction through the clothes, and as it moves downwardly there will be a tendency to force air downwardly through the water and theclothes. v

This pumping or alternate vsuction and forcing action is quite noticeable when the machine is being operated, and serves to more thoroughly agitate the clothes and water and more thoroughly draw and force the water through thel clothes.

As the agitator 21 moves upwardly, the air suction will tend to hold the part of the clothes against the agitatorv and raise them,

, and as the agitator moves around, part of the clothes'are carried with it so that the clothes are worked up and down and around constantly when the machine is in operation. l

It will thus be seen that the clothes are constantly moved and agitated without being subject to the friction-and wear which would be imposed by the ordinary dolly.,

It may be obvious that my improved gearing device is of extremely simple and inexpensive construction, and all of the parts are strong and durable and not likely to get out of order. Y

I claim as my invention:

1. In -a gearing device of the class described, the combination of a yrotatable plate, an arm pivotally supported in the plate andV extended downwardly, means for imparting av step` by step rotary movement to the plate,

and means for imparting a swinging moveff ment to said arm when the plate is in any position of its movement.

2. In a gearing device, the combinationof a rotatable plate, an arm pivotally supported in the plate and extended downwardly,

ratchet teeth on the plate, a rotatable wheel above said plate, a cam carried by the rata-,fv .f

table wheel and capable of engaging and rocking the said arm, a lever, means connected with said lever for imparting a rotary movement to the said wheel, and a lpawl connected -with said lever toengage said c wheel and designed to'engage said rollers, 9()V a pitman connected .withthe lever and del .signed to coperate with the said' ratchet itman, and means connected with the lever or rotating the balance wheel, for the purposes stated. y

Des Moines. Iowa, April 8, 1916.

. GEORGE W, LEXVIS. 

